Unbiased Updates went Off Script this week to discuss Obama returning to the campaign trail and the mysterious death at a Russian plague lab. We spoke with Straight Arrow’s Azi Paybarah and Jess Craig.Become a Straight Arrow subscriber to get the full episode every week: san.com/getoffscript

President Donald Trump faces repeated heckling at a Texas rally as he campaigns for Ken Paxton, with Republicans fighting to hold onto the traditionally red state. Plus, Isaias becomes the season’s first hurricane, rapidly strengthening as Gulf Coast communities prepare for a potentially dangerous weekend landfall. And the USS Abraham Lincoln returns home after more than 300 days deployed, including a record stretch at sea marked by difficult conditions and mental health concerns. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

Susan Collins and Troy Jackson clash over President Donald Trump in their first debate, as voting begins in a key Senate race. Plus, Christa Pike is awake and speaking after Tennessee’s failed execution, as her lawyers head to court seeking answers. And more than a quarter-million people join student-led protests across France, as police fire tear gas and make hundreds of arrests. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.

President Donald Trump says his super PAC will now pay for ads promoting his administration after bipartisan criticism over taxpayers footing the bill. Plus, U.S. officials are watching a mysterious death at a Russian plague lab, though Russia says no dangerous pathogen has been found. And Trump approves the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan by firing squad, though federal appeals could delay the first military execution since 1961. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026.

The U.S. pulls its bombers from a key base in England after a suspected terror plot, with British officials saying Iran may have played a role. Plus, new questions surround the FlyDubai co-pilot accused of trying to crash a passenger jet, as investigators examine his background and possible gaps in pilot screening. And a California woman is accused of spying for China after the FBI says she tracked the Taiwanese president’s son and sent information about his family to Chinese officials. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 5, 2026.

The FlyDubai captain who fought off his co-pilot speaks out from the hospital, saying he “couldn’t let everybody else die.” Plus, Christa Pike remains in critical condition after surviving two lethal-injection doses, as her lawyers push to have her sentence commuted. And Letitia James takes over the Cornell University sexual-assault case after New York’s governor says she’s lost faith in the local district attorney. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.

Tennessee halts executions after Christa Pike survives two lethal doses, triggering a third-party review into what went wrong. Plus, an Israel-bound flight plunges thousands of feet after violence erupts in the cockpit, before passengers and crew help regain control. And a secret recording captures Ken Paxton saying the GOP’s midterm convention hurt his campaign, while President Donald Trump defends the event. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.

President Donald Trump and top AI companies agree to voluntary safety measures, putting much of the responsibility on the industry itself as Democrats push for mandatory safeguards. Plus, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans another major Pentagon shakeup, calling for a 20% cut in generals and admirals as he targets what he sees as unnecessary bureaucracy. And former special counsel Jack Smith stands by his Trump prosecutions, telling senators he would make the same decisions again and won’t be silenced by threats of prosecution. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.

A New York prosecutor reopens a 2024 Cornell University gang-rape investigation after a civil lawsuit brings new scrutiny to how the handling of the case. Plus, former special counsel Jack Smith faces Senate Republicans Tuesday over his investigations into President Donald Trump and the authority behind them. And Trump will meet with top AI leaders, including executives warning about risks he has dismissed as a “hoax.” These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026.

Five men are arrested near a U.S.-operated air base in Britain as investigators probe possible ties to Iran. Plus, a powerful nor’easter floods coastal communities across the Northeast, with more rain and flooding possible Monday. And the White House airs government-funded President Donald Trump ads, including one that resembles a 2024 campaign spot, prompting scrutiny over the use of taxpayer money. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Sept. 28, 2026.